Robert Whiteford is loving life as the fighting pride of Scotland after making history in the UFC

THE first and only Scot to ever compete in the king of fighting organisations, Whiteford is still celebrating stealing the show at UFC 171 and picking up a dominant decision victory over Daniel Pineda in Dallas.

ROBERT Whiteford is loving life as the fighting pride of Scotland after making history in the UFC.

The first and only Scot to ever compete in the king of fighting organisations, Whiteford is still celebrating stealing the show at UFC 171 and picking up a dominant decision victory over Daniel Pineda in Dallas.

“I always knew I’d win in the UFC, I feel good to verify that. I’m happy to prove I’m not just a token Scottish fighter. I’m one of a kind. There is nobody else (in Scotland) on my level.”

Almost two weeks removed from the fight, Whiteford is sporting some wicked battle scars and was forced to remain in America for an operation. The initial fear was that he may have broken his leg after kicking Pineda so hard in the face. But an MRI scan showed deep bruising to the shin; he later discovered ankle ligament damage and a torn meniscus which had to taken out during an op on his knee.

“He had me in a knee bar submission and I felt it pop, a burning feeling came down the back of my knee. I thought it was my cruciate but instead it was the meniscus and they had to just cut it out altogether. It may have been enough to wreck my knee but never enough to make me tap out.”

Although it may seem the victory came at a price, Whiteford hides no expletives in telling how proud he is to represent Scotland in the fastest growing sport in the world.

“It means the world to be the only Scot to even fight nevermind win in the UFC, best experience I’ve ever had. It’s all I’ve ever dreamt off since I was a kid and I never thought I’d be here now to give Scotland someone to cheer on.”

A fry-up was the last thing on Whiteford’s mind during his gruelling eight week training camp for the fight in which he had to cut 27 pounds - a feat he has managed in five days before for a scrap.

Not one for partying or boozing, he had to make up for lost time and find his favourite grub halfway across the world.

“I was up for 24 hours after my fight; I just walked about and had an adventure and ate sweeties. I was waiting at the breakfast bar in the hotel in time for it opening at 6am and destroyed so much bacon and eggs.”